Maui's Makena Beach and Golf Resort has a variety of new food options. but that's no reason to bypass classic treats like shave ice.

Photo: Makena Beach And Golf Resort

Maui's Makena Beach and Golf Resort has a variety of new food...

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Rooms at the luxurious Halekulani in Waikiki will keep their seven shades of white and other neutral colors as part of a multimillion-dollar renewal.

Photo: Halekulani

Rooms at the luxurious Halekulani in Waikiki will keep their seven...

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Rooms in the iconic Rainbow Tower of Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki recently received a complete makeover, including a palette inspired by the sun.

Photo: Hilton Hawaiian Village

Rooms in the iconic Rainbow Tower of Hilton Hawaiian Village in...

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The cafe at the Coffees of Hawaii plantation on Molokai has extended its hours for the convenience of those riding the mules to Kalaupapa, while the gift shop now sells a coffee cherry tisane.

Photo: Jeanne Cooper, Special To SFGate

The cafe at the Coffees of Hawaii plantation on Molokai has...

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The new Aloha Harmony Tea House, which offers 86 varieties of loose-leaf teas, is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily in Waikiki Beach Walk.

Photo: Aloha Harmony Tea House

The new Aloha Harmony Tea House, which offers 86 varieties of...

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Parts of the narrow Waikiki shoreline, seen before the current beach replenishment project began, could be up to 37 feet broader by April.

Photo: Jeanne Cooper, Special To SFGate

Parts of the narrow Waikiki shoreline, seen before the current...

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The budget Ohana Waikiki Malia now offers a lounge pool and whirlpool for relaxing, as well as a new sports bar and pizza counter.

Photo: Ohana Hotels & Resorts

The budget Ohana Waikiki Malia now offers a lounge pool and...

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The Aqua Lotus Hotel, at the eastern edge of Waikiki, is the boutique chain's latest property to allow dogs of up to 20 pounds.

Photo: Aqua Resorts And Hotels

The Aqua Lotus Hotel, at the eastern edge of Waikiki, is the...

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Known for its oceanfront views, the Kama'aina Terrace at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort has reopened for dinner Thursday-Saturday with a locally sourced menu. The resort also hosts weekly complimentary vow renewals for couples staying at an Outrigger property on the island.

Hawaii's most famous strand may widen just in time for some spring breakers. The $2.5 million Waikiki Beach replenishment project, which could broaden the shoreline by as much as 37 feet, is due to wrap up by the end of the month. But even if the sands still fall a bit short on your next visit, other renovations and innovations beckon around the islands.

Hotel makeovers

South and West Maui boast some of the most striking recent revamps. The Makena Beach and Golf Resort's relaunch includes an expanded, state-of-the-art fitness center; new activities such as stargazing with iPads and cycling on complimentary Schwinns; and perhaps most important to guests who remember the hotel's faded glory, upgrades to its 310 renovated rooms and suites. Up the coast, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has completed a $6.5 million enhancement of its 508 rooms, featuring new Hawaiian artwork, tropical furnishings and - Web surfers, rejoice - Wi-Fi.

On Oahu, the luxurious Halekulani will debut in April the first of its "refreshed" 450 rooms after a multimillion-dollar touch-up to its famously neutral palette and improvements to its kitchen, which also recently introduced a GMO-free menu. Hilton Hawaiian Village's iconic Rainbow Tower now sports orange and gold hues, plus all-new fixtures and decor, as part of a $45 million makeover that included a million on the Duke Kahanamoku and Niumalu Presidential suites alone.

At the budget end (rates start at $79), the Ohana Waikiki Malia has added an indoor lounge pool - i.e. for cooling off, not doing laps - and whirlpool spa, plus the Slice of Waikiki pizza counter and the Rivals Waikiki sports bar. At the other end of Waikiki, the Aqua Lotus Honolulu may look the same, but it now accepts dogs up to 20 pounds. It also offers human guests a wider range of free amenities, too, from morning coffee and tea and afternoon wine service to the use of beach chairs, towels and beach cruisers.

The Courtyard Kaua'i at Coconut Beach, meanwhile, finished a $13 million renovation in January that focused on family-friendly attractions such as the pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center, game room and "eLounge," along with new menus and locally sourced ingredients at the hotel's Voyager Grill.

Drinks and dining

Hungry hordes descended on the Big Island's Keauhou resort in September when Sam Choy's Kai Lanai opened in a former Wendy's with a panoramic coastal view from its hillside perch, also home to the outdoor Short Bait Bar. At water's edge, the Keauhou Beach Resort's Kama'aina Terrace has now reopened for locally sourced dinners Thursday-Saturday, while the resort's Kalanikai Beach Bar, next to Kahaluu Beach Park, serves casual dining, beer and cocktails from 11 to 4 daily.

The ingredients may be local, but the cuisine is not at Porto, the new artisan pizzeria at Maalaea Harbor Shops on Maui. The restaurant - which like Kai Lanai serves breakfast, lunch and dinner - will also help raise funds for the Pacific Whale Foundation. Across the Alenuihaha Channel, Hilton Waikoloa Village serves Pacific Mexican cuisine at its new Boat Landing Cantina.

On Molokai, the espresso bar and cafe at the Coffees of Hawaii plantation in Kualapuu has new management and longer hours, a boon to clients of the nearby Molokai Mule Ride to Kalaupapa and the plantation's free Hawaiian music concerts on Sunday afternoons. Check out the gift shop's new coffee cherry tisane, too.

In Waikiki, tea drinkers and wine lovers have new options. The Aloha Harmony Tea House in Waikiki Beach Walk offers 86 loose-leaf teas to enjoy on the spot (including in lattes and smoothies), while the Moana Surfrider serves more than 100 wines by the glass at bin1901, a new wine bar and piano lounge named for the year the historic wing opened.

New romance

Civil unions for same-sex couples became legal in the Aloha State as of January, with GayHawaiiWedding.com staging its first official ceremony (after hundreds of unofficial ones) on Jan. 2 on Maui's South Shore. In honor of the new law, Kipuka Cottage on the Big Island is offering a Lovers' Nest discount of 15 percent to all couples who book by April 30 for stays in 2012 (for details, see www.kipuka-cottage.squarespace.com).

Guests staying at any Outrigger-managed resort or condo on the island of Hawaii can participate in the new group vow renewal Wednesday mornings at Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort. After couples make kukui nut leis, a Hawaiian officiant welcomes them with a chant, blesses them with water and leads them in reciting vows in Hawaiian; they also receive a commemorative certificate. It's free, but reservations are required; call (808) 324-2540.

Getting there

Hawaiian Airlines has made Maui's Kahului airport its second hub in the state, with increased inter-island flights and new or expanded nonstop service from mainland airports, including Oakland, San Jose and, starting in June, Los Angeles. Nonstop New York-Honolulu flights also begin in June.

Honolulu-bound passengers who aren't picking up a rental car have new shuttle options. SpeediShuttle provides on-demand, door-to-door service from the airport to points between Kahala and Ko Olina, starting at $12.95 per person; book a ride at a terminal kiosk or look for a greeter in aloha wear with a tablet PC. Roberts Express Shuttle, which can be reserved up to 24 hours in advance, includes porter service at baggage claim and a maximum of five stops before your hotel destination, for $12 one way ($20 round trip).

Former Chronicle Editor Jeanne Cooper writes the Aloha Friday column and Hawaii Insider blog on SFGate.com. For more photos with this story, see Jeanne Cooper's Hawaii Insider blog at sfgate.com/hawaii.